Metal eire block



y 1932- c. G. ECKET ET AL 1,357,449 METAL FIRE BLOCK, BRIDGING, AND BRACING Filed Oct. 9, 1950 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l Clbboz wag fly 12, 1932- c. e. ECKET ET AL 1,867,449

METAL FIRE BLOCK, BRIDGING, AND BRACING Filed Oct. 9, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 o 4 awn 501,

61 612 012? I H. VISheZcZon dbhozucq Patented July 12, 1932 UNITED srrss P AT NT ,FFI C *5.

CORA. G. ECKET AND BOSGOE V. SHELDON,OF LOS ANGELES, G ALIFORNIA METAL FIRE BLOCK, BRIDGING, Ann BRAGING Application filed October 9, 1930. Serial No. 487,575.

The present invention relates to building constructions and more particularly to means for bracing studs or the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a brace or block which may be readily positioned between a pair of studs, the block or brace being so constructed as to permit the ready adjustment thereof for positioning the block at varying angles between studs of varying distances apart.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which is adapted to be positioned between the studs of a building so as to provide a fire block for preventing the fire from travelling upwardly between the studs.

A further object of this invention is to pro vide a device of this kind which may be readily used as bridging between floor joists or the like and which will take the place of the ordinary bridging made out of wooden strips.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be described and in part be understood from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment of this'invention, the same being illustrated in accom panying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a detail top plan view of a blank sheet of metal constructed according to the preferred embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a modification of this device;

Figure 4; is a sectional'view taken on the line 47-4: of Figure 3; 1

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the preferred form of this invention showing the blank form having the sides and ends bent;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the plate of one end larger than .5 the opposite end;

Figure 7 is a detail side elevation showing the application of this device as a fire block;

Figure 8 is a detail side elevation showing and the use of the device as a bridging member;

' Figure 9 is adetail side elevation showing the use of this device as an inclined brace.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals of'reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 designates generally a brace or block in blank formconstructed according to the preferred embodiment of thisinvention, the block 10 being of elongated rectangular configuration and constructed out ofan elongated sheet of metal. The block or brace 10 comprises a-body portion 11," a pair of sides 12 which are secured along the marginal edge'portions of the body'll; The body 11' is adaptedto be secured to studs 13 or the like, the ends of the body 11 being cut inwardly as at 14: so as to-provide a secur I ing plate 15 which is providedwith suitable apertures 16 for securing the plate 15 to the joist13. 1

The widthof the bodyll'is'substantially equal to the width of the joists 13 and the side bracing strips 12 are adapted to extend be yond the body 11 at the ends thereof and are provided with apertures 17 for receiving nails or' the like, the extended portions 18 being adaptedto engage against the opposite edges of the joist 18. The securing plate 15 at one en'd of the body 11 is adaptedtobe bent reversel'y or oppositely from the securing plate at the opposite end of the body.

v The body llis also adapted to'be scored or indented inwardly from the end thereof so that if'desired one plate 15 may be bentout wardlya'greater distance from thebody than the: opposing plate. The side members-12 are adapted. to be bent at substantially right angles'to the body 11 so as to provide a'sub stantially channeled bracing member which is adapted to be positioned between the studs 13' in either horizontal orinclined position. If desired, the device herein disclosed may be mounted on an angle so as to provide a substantially continuous brace or, if desired, the device may be placed in substantially horizontal position so as tolprovide a fire block,.this -.fire.block being more clearly disclosed in Figure 7.

The body 11 is also adapted to be longitudinally fluted as shown at 19 in Figure 3, the 1 body 11 being provided with substantially V-shaped fluting which is formed integrally with the body and is adapted to cooperate with the sides 12 for bracing the body. The fluting 19 is integrally formed with the body 11 and is formed by pressing the body out-- wardly. As shown in Figure 8, the brace herein disclosed is adapted to be used as bridging between the joists so as to hold the joists in vertical position.

While this device has been disclosed as hav ing theropposite ends here f bent i pposed relation, we do not wish to behmited to' this i I construction as if desiredthe oppgsite ends or securing plates 15 maybe bent in the same direction, this being particularly desirable where the device is used as a-fire block as more clearly shown in Figure 7.

By providing the marginal edge portions of the body 11 with a suitable score or inden-- tation 20, it will be possible to make the end plates 15 of any desired length as shown by the dotted line in Figure 6 The body plate 10 is also provided with a. plurality of, scores 21 which are preferably shapedso that if desired a conduit or plpeinay be extended through the body plate 11, this being accomplished by punching out the material within the score 21. Through the use of these scores 21;; the usual conduits andpipemay be extended orpositioned between the studs 13 in the usual manner and the plates. 11 will I serve as a spacing member for holding the conduit or building. 7

' It will be obvious'from the foregoing that a relatively simple device has been. disclosed which may be used in a number of. difierent Ways in building constructions and that the use of this device will eliminate the necessity of the carpenter cutting blocks or. the like to be used asv braces or bridging, between the studs and joists.

What is claimed is A device of the character, described com-' prising an elongated bodyplate, a .pair of side members integrally for'medfwith the plate and angularly disposed with respect thereto whereby to provide a channelled e braeingmember extensions secured to Said side members and extending. beyond the ends Olfisaid body plate, a securing plate secured to said body at one end thereof, and a second securing plate secured to the opposite end of: 7 said body, said body having-longitudinally disposed Scores therein whereby to permit bending of said second securing plateat vary-f ing points.

ln testimony whereof we hereunto aflix our signaturesi CORA e. ECKET. noscon v. SHELDON.-

piping away fromthe wall of the 

